Polyurethane central venous catheters were impregnated with silver sulfadiazine and chlorhexidine (Arrowgard Antiseptic Catheters(TM)) to render them resistant to infection. The combination of silver sulfadiazine and chlorhexidine exhibits synergistic activity and prevents the emergence of resistant bacteria. Catheters were implanted subcutaneously in rats, followed by contamination of the insertion site. The degree of bacterial colonization was significantly lower in the antiseptic catheter group. Ten days post implantation, only 20% of the antiseptic catheters were colonized at the medial and distal sections, compared with 100% in the control group.